The Pittsburgh Steelers are a terrifying team to have to go up against, especially when it seems as though everything is working for them. The Tennessee Titans, unfortunately, were in the wrong place at the wrong time, as Ben Roethlisberger helped lift his team to their eighth win of the season. The game took place on Thursday Night (Nov. 16).
Pros and cons of Pittsburgh's night
Pros: The Steelers were absolutely dominant on Thursday night as they move to having the best record in the AFC at 8-2. The win also gives them a 3.5 game lead in the AFC North.
Watching Pittsburgh play, it was easy to see that this was the dominance we all expected from them coming into the season. With as many weapons as they have surrounding Big Ben, it was only a matter of time before they asserted themselves the way that they did.
There were many doubts about Roethlisberger, including some from himself, about how much time he has left performing well in the NFL, but whoever had those doubts surely must be rethinking that now. The veteran quarterback went 30-of-45 in this game, throwing for just short of 300 yards including four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had one rush for ten yards to accompany that. Antonio Brown was by far his favorite receiver in this game as he had ten receptions for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
This was his fifth game of the season going for 100+ receiving yards. The Ben-Brown connection is something that the rest of the league should be terrified of moving forward as it is almost unstoppable once it gets going.
The defense also looked great in this game, as they took four interceptions from Marcus Mariota to give their team the best chance to win.
Cons: The running game was nonexistent in this game as Le'Veon Bell, their leading rusher, went for 46 yards on 12 carries. They still found other ways to incorporate him in the offense though, as he caught nine passes for 57 yards. The lack of a running game was the only flaw that should be taken away from this game.
Antonio Brown aka the best WR in the NFL pic.twitter.com/tgndt7rkgE
— 360°FantasyFootball (@360FFB) November 17, 2017
Pros and cons of Tennessee's night
Pros: There weren't very many pros for the Titans in this one. Rishard Matthews had his best game of the season with five receptions for 116 yards, but it mostly came off of his 75-yard touchdown that kept Tennessee's game alive. That was his only score of the game.
On the first play of the second half...
— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2017
Mariota to @_RMatthews for the 75-YARD TD! #TitanUp #TENvsPIT pic.twitter.com/PlHDcKwVUy
Delanie Walker would have been worth noting with his six catches for 92 yards, but he dropped maybe the easiest touchdown pass you'll ever see in your life in this game, which could have kept Tennessee's hopes alive.
Delanie Walker--hands like butter. pic.twitter.com/Co0YfJeVkf
— Derek Jansen (@wolverinefan24) November 17, 2017
Cons: Essentially everything else was a con for the Titans in this one. Sure, they stayed in the game until the fourth quarter, but it's not how you start, it's how you finish. The defense fell apart in the fourth, allowing the Steelers to run away with this game, though the Steelers were able to take advantage of four Mariota interceptions in the game. It's also difficult to get the passing game going when your running game can't figure it out. Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray combined for 15 rushes and 42 yards in the game as well as the Steelers defense containing Mariota five yards on five rushes.
Despite all of these struggles from Tennessee on Thursday night, they still control their own fate in the playoff hunt. With a light schedule for the next few weeks and still a 1.5 game lead from dropping out of a playoff spot, the Titans can easily stick in the postseason race. A division title is still in reach as well as they now trail the Jacksonville Jaguars by a half-game in the AFC South.
The Steelers, on the other hand, have a comfortable lead in their division, so they can cruise through the rest of the season without much worry.